Method and apparatus for texturizing continuous filaments

Abstract

Continuous filaments are fed by aspiration into a stream of heated fluid. The filaments are then contacted with at least a second stream of heated fluid to increase the temperature of the filaments. The combined streams of fluid containing the filaments are directed into contact with a barrier disposed within a chamber at a force sufficient to initiate crimping of the filaments. A major portion of the fluid is separated from the filaments and expelled from the chamber. The filaments are transported through the chamber by continuous movement of a surface therein at sufficient velocity to cause overfeeding of the filaments, whereby the filaments are forced against a mass thereof and emerge from the chamber in crimped form.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for crimping continuous filaments comprising: a. a chamber having   a moveable, perforate yarn receiving means disposed therein;   b. fluid directing means having an angular disposition relative to said yarn receiving means for directing a stream of compressible fluid containing said filaments into contact with said yarn receiving means to initiate crimping thereof, the angle of disposition being such that impingement of said filaments occurs within said chamber, said yarn receiving means being adapted to separate the major portion of said fluid from said filaments and to expel it from said chamber and to provide a continuously moving surface associated with said chamber to cause overfeeding of said filaments into said chamber, said filaments being forced against a mass thereof within said chamber to produce crimps therein; and   c. heating means connected to and upstream of said fluid directing means for contacting said filaments with heated fluid to increase the temperature of the filaments.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said chamber has a curvilinear configuration. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said yarn receiving means has a coefficient of friction of about 0.05 to 0.9. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said yarn receiving means is a screen having a mesh size ranging from about 50 to 400. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said heating means includes a tube having at least one fluid inlet therein. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said tube has a length of about 3 to 60 inches. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the number of fluid inlets is about 1 to 60. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said fluid directing means comprises a tube having an end located in relatively close proximity to said barrier means, the cross-sectional area of said end being about 0.0002 to 0.30 square inch and the cross-sectional area of said chamber being about 0.00015 to 1.00 square inch. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said yarn receiving means is a plate containing a plurality of apertures, the number of apertures being sufficient to separate from said filaments and expel from said chamber about 60 to 98 percent of said fluid. 
     
     
       10. A method of crimping continuous filaments, comprising the steps of: a. feeding said filaments by aspiration into a stream of heated fluid;   b. contacting said filaments with at least a second stream of heated fluid to increase the temperature of the filaments;   c. directing said stream containing said filaments into contact with a moveable, perforate yarn receiving means disposed within a chamber, the contact occuring within said chamber and the force of contact being sufficient to initiate crimping of said filaments;   d. separating a major portion of said first and second streams of heated fluid from said filaments and expelling it from said chamber;   e. transporting said filaments through said chamber by continuous movement of a surface therein at sufficient velocity to cause overfeeding of said filaments into said chamber, said filaments being forced against a mass thereof within said chamber to produce crimps therein; and   f. removing said filaments in crimped form from said chamber.   
     
     
       11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said filaments contact said yarn receiving means at an angle of impact of about 15° to about 75°. 
     
     
       12. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said filaments contact said yarn receiving means at a velocity of about 600 to 12,000 feet per minute. 
     
     
       13. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said fluid is compressible. 
     
     
       14. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the number of streams of fluid is about 1 to 60. 
     
     
       15. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein each of said fluid streams has a temperature of about 150° to 350° C. 
     
     
       16. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said filaments are composed of polyester. 
     
     
       17. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said filaments are composed of material selected from the group consisting of poly 1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate polyhexamethylene adipamide, poly φ-aminocaproic acid, polypropylene, cellulose acetate and cellulose triacetate. 
     
     
       18. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein said filaments contain in excess of 40 crimps per inch when removed from said chamber. 
     
     
       19. A method as recited in claim 10, including the step of separating a major portion of said fluid from said filaments prior to directing the remaining portion of said fluid containing said filaments into contact with said yarn receiving means.